5 hours ago
12.05.2009
Best of 09- Music- Songs.
1. Beautiful Morning- Aaron Spiro
No question. The first time I heard this song, I had to stop it in the middle, and restart it, just to make sure it was really happening. I don't really even know how to describe it- I don't think I can.
Just buy the whole album here. Seriously.
(Photo from Aaron Spiro Facebook.) 2.Exogenesis: Symphony- Muse
I spent some time debating on which song from the new Muse album "The Resistance" to put in this spot. Exogenesis: Symphony came out as the winner. This 3 part saga, spanning just about 13 minutes is a beautiful piece composing of an orchestra, piano, guitar, and the sweet vocals of Matthew Bellamy. There is a lot of story to Exogenesis- so I'll let you check it out here: Link.
I like this piece because it is eerily beautiful and majestically powerful. Solid beginning, middle, and end. Plus- it really caps off an incredible album.
Part One: Overture
Part Two: Cross Pollination
Part Three: Redemption
3. Fresh Air- Brother Ali
Cool, Funky, Fresh. This song packs it all. Brother Ali from Minneapolis is not your stereotypical hip-hop artist- He's Islamic, Albino, and Blind- Not really fitting in any stereotype, which is one of the reasons why he was inspired to create his music in the first place. This is the 5th track off his critically acclaimed album "Us" which debuted #56 on the Billboard 200. Reason why I like it? What really do I need to say- It's cool, it's funky, it's fresh. "Fresh Air" is honestly the main reason that bought the entire album, which is pretty rockin' too. I had a pretty sweet moment involving this song- I was walking in the student parking lot, and I heard someone start their car up, and immediately this song was pumping from their sound system- I just looked over and gave them a big grin. Also- He mentions Conan in the song- Check it out.
(Warning: Song has Some Profanity)
4. I'm On A Boat- The Lonely Island & T-Pain
In February of 2009, "I'm on a Boat" was featured as a Digital Short on Saturday Night Live. From there "I'm on a Boat" has been a common place phrase in social circles and used on various pop culture mediums. Meant to be a parody of the cliches seen in most rap music videos, it actually became a hit song, peaking at #56 on the Billboard Hot 100, and receiving nearly 40 million views on YouTube. The reason why I like it: It's absolutely hilarious, fun to listen to, and very quotable. I don't think I'll ever be able to hear the phrase "on a boat" again, without singing the lines in my head.
Uncensored Version: Here. (Profanity)
Live Version with The Roots: Here.
"Clean" Version:
5. Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Didn't expect that one to start the festivities did ya? Empire State of Mind ranks number 5 on the Best Singles of 2009. Featuring hip-hop titan, Jay-Z and the powerhouse vocals of Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind is a song that I just can't turn off. I first heard the song when the two performed it live before game two of the World Series in New York, and have been enjoying it since. I enjoy the cadence of the verses, as rapped by Jay-Z, and the anthem feel of the chorus sung by Keys. The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 18th, and as of today (12/1) it is still topping the chart.
11.21.2009
Children wash clothes and bathe at a water pipeline surrounded by sewage in Mumbai, India on Wednesday November 18. (AP/ Rafiq Maqbool)
Roha, an infant, is left sleeping on the sidewalk of a busy street in Mumbai, India on Wednesday November 18th (AP/ Rafiq Maqbool)
More Here: The World's Children
World War II
I've recently started watching this program on the History Channel called "World War II in HD". Essentially they compiled about 10 hours of color film footage from WWII and tell the story of 12 different American's who experienced the war first hand. It's a pretty sweet presentation, HD, Narrated by Gary Sinise, remastered sound, and tons interesting information. I've always found visual images of Nazi Germany to be eerily fascinating- and there are a lot of images of that. Also it's just interesting to see culture of America and other countries during the war.
Anyways, If you have the opportunity- I'd recommend checking an episode or two out.
Anyways, If you have the opportunity- I'd recommend checking an episode or two out.
11.19.2009
Selected Reviews of "New Moon"
"The most surprising thing about New Moon, the second film in the Twilight series, is how much worse it is than the first." - Devin Faraci
"Never have vampires and werewolves had so much estrogen. The producers should apologize to Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee and Frank Langella."- Fiore Mastracci
"New Moon, for at least an hour, is laughably silly and unfathomably dull"- Gary Thompson
"You almost feel sorry for those actors playing various off-the-hook monsters who, for the second movie in a row, have little to do except stand aside waiting for their few lines of dialogue"- Steven Persall
"Extreme moping by hollow actors makes the film feel like it stars robots stuck on their 'Emo' setting."- Matt Pais
"Parents: If I can (poorly) discipline a 16-year-old cat to not howl before sunrise, you can teach your kids to not emulate Bella Swan."- Ed Gonzalez
"Never has a man's shirtlessness been so essential to a character's development." - Jordan Hoffman
"This episode is as repetitive as the first, with endless scenes of kissus interruptus punctuated by moody indie-rock songs." Rafer Guzman
"In the mood for two glossy hours of adolescent yearning and buff, shirtless dudes? Then this movie is for you!" - Thomas Leupp
"The irony in this movie about vampires is that the only thing doing any sucking is the movie itself." -Walter Chaw
"The cinematic equivalent of a Jonas Brothers concert, The Twilight Saga: New Moon is slickly packaged entertainment that’s nonetheless predicated on a creepy vision of teenage sexuality that is desiccated of, well, sexuality."- Kevin Maher
"New Moon is basically a 130-minute chick flick during which the three main protagonists spend a lot of time looking with cow eyes at each other's faces." - Bob Bloom
"It's Shakespeare on training wheels made for future Lifetime viewers" - Mike Ward
"Watching New Moon is like being trapped in a room for two hours with a moody teenage girl who won't stop whining about how her boyfriend dumped her." - Mike McGranaghan
Find some other gems here: RT
____
"Hey Brian- If you don't like it, then you don't have to watch it."
- I won't.
Is it me or have advertisements for "New Moon" been on for the past 3 months. You know- the ones with hunky young men with cut bodies, all dolled up in guy-liner and baby oil- Who turn into wolverines. I just felt some need to get some payback.
A few days ago while waiting to hear some more information on the "Deck The Hall Ball" (which I got tickets to- wahoo!) there was some girl that got quite verbally mad at the DJ because He got some Twilight fact wrong. Her response was some angered yelling of "I'M TEAM EDWARD."
What a champ.
Anyways. I'm sure you could dig up bad reviews of things that I like. I don't really care.
"Never have vampires and werewolves had so much estrogen. The producers should apologize to Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee and Frank Langella."- Fiore Mastracci
"New Moon, for at least an hour, is laughably silly and unfathomably dull"- Gary Thompson
"You almost feel sorry for those actors playing various off-the-hook monsters who, for the second movie in a row, have little to do except stand aside waiting for their few lines of dialogue"- Steven Persall
"Extreme moping by hollow actors makes the film feel like it stars robots stuck on their 'Emo' setting."- Matt Pais
"Parents: If I can (poorly) discipline a 16-year-old cat to not howl before sunrise, you can teach your kids to not emulate Bella Swan."- Ed Gonzalez
"Never has a man's shirtlessness been so essential to a character's development." - Jordan Hoffman
"This episode is as repetitive as the first, with endless scenes of kissus interruptus punctuated by moody indie-rock songs." Rafer Guzman
"In the mood for two glossy hours of adolescent yearning and buff, shirtless dudes? Then this movie is for you!" - Thomas Leupp
"The irony in this movie about vampires is that the only thing doing any sucking is the movie itself." -Walter Chaw
"The cinematic equivalent of a Jonas Brothers concert, The Twilight Saga: New Moon is slickly packaged entertainment that’s nonetheless predicated on a creepy vision of teenage sexuality that is desiccated of, well, sexuality."- Kevin Maher
"New Moon is basically a 130-minute chick flick during which the three main protagonists spend a lot of time looking with cow eyes at each other's faces." - Bob Bloom
"It's Shakespeare on training wheels made for future Lifetime viewers" - Mike Ward
"Watching New Moon is like being trapped in a room for two hours with a moody teenage girl who won't stop whining about how her boyfriend dumped her." - Mike McGranaghan
Find some other gems here: RT
____
"Hey Brian- If you don't like it, then you don't have to watch it."
- I won't.
Is it me or have advertisements for "New Moon" been on for the past 3 months. You know- the ones with hunky young men with cut bodies, all dolled up in guy-liner and baby oil- Who turn into wolverines. I just felt some need to get some payback.
A few days ago while waiting to hear some more information on the "Deck The Hall Ball" (which I got tickets to- wahoo!) there was some girl that got quite verbally mad at the DJ because He got some Twilight fact wrong. Her response was some angered yelling of "I'M TEAM EDWARD."
What a champ.
Anyways. I'm sure you could dig up bad reviews of things that I like. I don't really care.
11.17.2009
Something on my mind...
Putting things into perspective.
2,976 Americans died on September 11th, 2001.
9,000,000+ Children around the world die from malnourishment every year.
That's 3,024 times more deaths.
________________________________________________
$932,625,763,405 (and going) has been spent on the wars in the middle east since 2001.
$30,000,000,000 (a year) Would greatly help eradicate the problem of world hunger- 30bill sounds like a lot, but we throw that down the trash each year.
I got to thinking this after I watched this video:
I just want to emphasize that I'm not comparing world poverty statistics to United States War statistics to make a political statement, or anti American statement. I appreciate all the men and women who sacrifice themselves that allow us to live with our freedoms... Let's just do something useful with those.
Also, if someone could find me the statistic (with a good source!) on how many American's die because of hunger and/or poverty every year, that would be greatly appreciated.
Sources:
2,976 Americans died on September 11th, 2001.
9,000,000+ Children around the world die from malnourishment every year.
That's 3,024 times more deaths.
________________________________________________
$932,625,763,405 (and going) has been spent on the wars in the middle east since 2001.
$30,000,000,000 (a year) Would greatly help eradicate the problem of world hunger- 30bill sounds like a lot, but we throw that down the trash each year.
I got to thinking this after I watched this video:
The End (Jake's Story) from Nuru International on Vimeo.
I just want to emphasize that I'm not comparing world poverty statistics to United States War statistics to make a political statement, or anti American statement. I appreciate all the men and women who sacrifice themselves that allow us to live with our freedoms... Let's just do something useful with those.
Also, if someone could find me the statistic (with a good source!) on how many American's die because of hunger and/or poverty every year, that would be greatly appreciated.
Sources:
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